Harper Chooses Fairfield
Suffield Academy post-graduate guard Jared Harper has accepted a recruited walk-on spot at Fairfield University following a visit to the school’s campus and meeting with head coach Sydney Johnson and his staff over the weekend.
A California native, Harper decided on a pos-tgraduate year after a broken leg during his junior year in the football season kept him off the basketball court for nearly a year. Prior to his leg injury Harper was known as an explosive athlete and deadly shooter on the west coast. During the rehabilitation process he spent a great deal of time working to gain back the strength and athleticism, and maintain his shooting touch.
“When Jared arrived here this fall it was clear he had worked hard to build up his frame and get his athleticism back. He is one of the more explosive guards in Class B, and this allows him to be a pest on the defensive end.” Suffield Academy head coach Jeff Depelteau said, “Jared is really just beginning to hit his stride. His best basketball is ahead of him. I think the coaching staff at Fairfield made Jared feel very welcomed, specifically Coach Martin Bahar and Coach Johnson.”
In Harper, Fairfield is getting a steal as a recruited walk-on. Throughout the process the 6-2 combo guard heard from the likes of San Jose State, UMass-Lowell, and New Hampshire.
Depelteau concluded, “I think this is a great fit for Jared both from academically and from a basketball perspective. Athletically Jared can compete at this level and he will help the Fairfield program get better every day. He will continue to improve and develop, and maybe even earn some time on the court eventually. I am proud of how much Jared has come along this year at Suffield. He has been a model citizen on campus and is an absolute gym rat, everything you could want from a post-graduate.”